Immediate Vs. Delayed Weight Bearing Postoperative Protocol in Diabetic Ankle Fractures

Operatively managed diabetic ankle fractures have significant risk for complications. The cause for failure is likely multifactorial, however, a component of failure has to do with an inability to process pain and pressure normally. This loss of protective sensation allows for an increase in abnormal stresses placed on the recently repaired fractures. Historically, diabetics have been kept non weight bearing for extended periods of time, which has its own functional and cardiovascular issues. The purpose of the study is to determine if a protocol of immediate weight bearing with a hindfoot offloading brace after surgically corrected ankle fracture in a diabetic patient will maintain adequate motion, have no difference in complications when compared to regular non-immediate weight bearing protocols, and lead to good outcome scores and patient satisfaction scores

Patients will be recruited from the trauma and foot & ankle service lines. Patients who have experienced an isolated ankle fracture (excluding pilon fracture) and will undergo operative fixation within 3 weeks of injury will be approached for consent. Patients will then be screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Up to 25 patients will be enrolled

The following protocol will be applied after enrollment

1. Pre-operatively

a. Hemoglobin A1c will also be collected from each patient if it has not been performed within the last 30 days. 2. Post-operatively a. Post-surgery i. Standard of Care: